Dem Rep to constituents on HHS mandate: “Basically, we’re not looking to the Constitution”

posted at 3:05 pm on February 27, 2012 by Ed Morrissey

This moment in constitutional cluelessness comes to us from the same townhall meeting Rep. Kathy Hochul held with her NY-26 constituents that we featured on Saturday. The local media missed this moment in their report, however, and it was even more telling than the chorus of boos that greeted Hochul when she attempted to defend the HHS mandate on contraception, sterilization, and abortifacients. When challenged by a reader of Freedom’s Lighthouse on the constitutionality of the mandate, Hochul’s response was rather telling:

“Well, basically, we’re not looking to the Constitution on that aspect of it.”

Hochul tried arguing that Congress has decided that people should get access to free health care and that’s the end of that question as far as Hochul is concerned, but clearly it wasn’t with this crowd. As another constituent reminded Hochul, the First Amendment takes precedence over Congress. In fact, the First Amendment explicitly states that it takes precedence over Congress: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof[.]” Hochul then tries to claim that she’s defending freedom of religion by, er, telling Catholic organizations that they’re not actually religious organizations any more.

Be sure to watch to the end, or you’ll miss this exchange, too:

Q: So why don’t we provide free access to Band-Aids and cancer screenings? Why is it contraception? Aren’t those more important to health care than contraception? [Applause]

HOCHUL: Well, clearly more work needs to be done … [laughter]

Yes, because clearly Democrats want to mandate that everything be provided for free, funded only by unicorn emissions and fresh crops off the money trees. They’re just starting with contraception. As far as that pesky Constitution goes, I think that the new Democratic Party slogan of “We Don’t Look to the Constitution” spells out their choice beautifully — and 72% of Americans already agree that it describes ObamaCare perfectly.

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The Democrats know the black vote + the socialist vote + the mental defective vote doesn’t add up to an Obama win. They must have the women’s vote and they believe this is the path to get there. My wife tells me he’s wrong but what does she know? She’s one of those awful Catholics that need to be put in their place.

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.”

Hochul tried arguing that Congress has decided that people should get access to free health care and that’s the end of that question as far as Hochul is concerned,

And I want a “free” car, and a “free” house, and “free” food and “free” vacations, a “free” new computer would be nice. And “free” internet access. Oh, and “free” water service to the house, and “free” trash pickup.

Q: So why don’t we provide free access to Band-Aids and cancer screenings? Why is it contraception? Aren’t those more important to health care than contraception? [Applause]

HOCHUL: Well, clearly more work needs to be done … [laughter]

The crowd was laughing, but that’s the endgame. They want people to demand everything for free. That paves the way for them to take over the entire system and institute single payer. Sure, the costs will skyrocket, the quality of care will decline, and wait times will increase(and some will never even get to see a doctor), but ultimately people will have their “free” health care.

Well, I hope the people of Western NY are proud of themseleves by electing this dimbulb, tyrannical clown last spring. They allowed themselves to get scared that Paul Ryan was proposing taking away their Medicare and voted for this twit.

“Well, basically, we’re not looking to the Constitution on that aspect of it.”

This is just part and parcel of similar comments made by Nutty Nancy Pelosi. During the run-up to the ObamaCare vote, she was asked about the Constitutionality of it and responded “You must be kidding me”. And then there’s, “We have to pass it (ObamaCare) in order to find out what’s in it”.

“Why don’t we have free bandaids? Isn’t that more important to healthcare than contraception??”

Brilliant! The left has already lost this argument and they don’t even realize it.

They tried to make the issue about contraception, they lost.

They tried to, and still do smear opponents to the mandate as people who want to “ban” contraception. This is an absurd position that nobody advocates.

They try to claim that the catholic church is trying to ban their employees and their members from accessing contraceptives. They fail. Everyone knows that this isn’t the reason people are upset.

They try to manufacture consent by headlining polls that say 99% of catholics use contraceptives. The public already knows this and still thinks that is not the point. They don’t want to pay for something that they think is morally objectionable even though it is commonly accepted as an individual decision.

We are seeing a media campaign that is trying to simultaneously make democrats be the champions of “choice” while they dictate acceptable practices and demonize all dissent….at the same time, people who want to stand up for freedom are being called oppressors. We truly live in strange times.

It has long been known, unequivocally proven, and officially recorded in every reputable Scientific journal and publication in every modern country on Earth that an active fulfilling sex life contributes a great deal towards good health.

When CNSNews.com asked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Thursday where the Constitution authorized Congress to order Americans to buy health insurance–a mandate included in both the House and Senate versions of the health care bill–Pelosi dismissed the question by saying: “Are you serious? Are you serious?”

What’s the purpose of the Constitution?
Where do our rights come from?
Under what clause of the Constitution can the Government tell me I have to buy healthcare insurance?
Can it also tell me I have to buy a car? A telephone? A savings bond?

Apparently, she must be confused on the rules of congres as much of the 535 are……………

Each report of a committee on a public bill or joint public resolution MUST contain a statement citing the specific powers granted to congress in the constitution to enact a law proposed by bill or joint resolution.

The crowd was laughing, but that’s the endgame. They want people to demand everything for free. That paves the way for them to take over the entire system and institute single payer. Sure, the costs will skyrocket, the quality of care will decline, and wait times will increase(and some will never even get to see a doctor), but ultimately people will have their “free” health care.

Doughboy on February 27, 2012 at 3:15 PM

You’re right. While the crowd was laughing at how patently absurd the whole notion of everything for “free” is, there are those out there thinking “yeah, why don’t I get free bandaids and cancer screenings?”

Trying to figure out what voters are going to do is very difficult but, if they’re willing to throw Obama out because of Health Care, I’m sure they’re willing to throw out the defenders of these mandates also, at least I’d hope so.

The Democrats clearly have not thought this out, on any level, so where it ends up no one knows. The problem is, they’ve put the delay tactics on in the Senate so no changes can be made without the next election. ALl I can say is the Republicans had better have a plan they can sell and have it ready, before the election, if this is going to be their issue.

The Democratic Party is the party of and for the U.S. working class, a class which is multiracial, multinational, and unites men and women, young and old, employed and unemployed, organized and unorganized, gay and straight, native-born and immigrant, urban and rural, and composed of workers who perform a large range of physical and mental labor—the vast majority of our society. We are the party of the African American, Mexican American, Puerto Rican, all other Latino American, Native American, Asian American, and all racially and nationally oppressed peoples, as well as women, youth, and all other working people.

The living standards of workers and the natural environment on which life depends are under constant attack due to the drive for maximum profits inherent in capitalism. Our party fights for jobs and economic security, a decent and rising standard of living, peace, justice, equality, a sustainable environment, gay rights, health care, education, affordable housing, the needs of seniors, democracy, and a fulfilling life for everyone, with socialism as our goal. Only through the abolition of the capitalist system and the socialist reorganization of society can exploitation of human beings by others, and the evils of oppression, war, racism, environmental degradation, and poverty be ended. We seek to build a socialist society which puts people and nature before profits.

Our country’s founding Revolution exalted the ideals of equality, justice, and democracy, of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all. Marxists have long hailed its progressive significance, while recognizing its historical limitations, chief of which was the failure to abolish slavery. The Democratic Party today upholds the continuing struggle to realize these ideals. The revolutionary democratic traditions of the United States call for radical change when injustice, inequality, and exploitation become unbearably oppressive. This legacy gives us, the working class and its allies, the right and responsibility to build a new society. We advocate an expanded Bill of Rights to guarantee religious, political, and individual freedoms, but also freedom from poverty, hunger, joblessness, and racism.

Racism plays a particularly destructive role in the life of our country, imposing severely impoverished living standards on tens of millions of the specially oppressed, and lowering the quality of life for all workers. Racism harms all workers, obstructing the development of working-class consciousness, driving wedges in class unity to divert attention from class exploitation, and creating extra profits for the capitalist class. The Democratic Party is unalterably opposed to all manifestations of racism, national oppression, U.S. national chauvinism, male supremacy, homophobia, and anti-Semitism, which are used by the enemies of progress to divide the working class and people’s forces. The principles of democracy, equality, justice, and class self-interest require a joint fight against all expressions of racism and gender oppression. We fight for full equality for all who suffer from racial, national, and gender oppression as an essential aspect of the unity that is basic to all social progress.

Issues of war and peace, wealth and poverty, ecology and pollution, racial and national division, gender discrimination, and international conflict are all connected to class struggle, and have common features on which to build unity among peoples, organizations, and coalitions. The working class as the necessary leading force along with the other core forces—all racially and nationally oppressed groups, women, and youth—can build a movement that also includes the many streams of our working people—such as family farmers, small business owners, and the self-employed—who united together have the power to make fundamental progressive change.

Peace is essential for the survival of the planet and humanity. The pursuit of world domination to further enrich capitalists has resulted in destructive wars, environmental devastation, and massive poverty. The Democratic Party fights for solidarity among the working class and peoples of all lands and supports their pursuit of self-determination over their own lands and economies. In the spirit of working-class internationalism, the Democratic Party builds the closest bonds with Democratic and Workers Parties throughout the world.

Founded in Chicago in 1919, the Democratic Party of the United States has an outstanding history in the struggles for peace, democratic rights, racial and gender equality, economic justice, union organization, and international solidarity. Our Party is organized on the principle of democratic centralism, combining maximum democratic discussion and decision-making with maximum unity of will and action, ensuring our ability to play a strong organizing role in the class struggle. We focus our efforts on increasing our ability to organize millions into struggle, fighting anti-communism as a divisive weapon of the capitalist class. With Marxism-Leninism guiding our actions, the Democratic Party strives to build the broadest unity against global capitalist imperialism now headed by U.S. imperialism, for immediate gains and reforms that benefit working people, and for a progressive democratization of the government, the economy, and society of our country on the road to and after winning socialism.

With pride in our past and confidence in our future, we hereby establish this Constitution of the Democratic Party of the United States America.

But oops! One important detail… that is not the Constitution of the Democratic Party…

So why didn’t members of the audience detain this criminal politician Kathy Hochul with a citizen’s arrest for treason and attempted crimes against the Constitution? Sebelius and Obama should stand accused as well.

No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

Anyone who swears an oath to support the Constitution, and then does not support it, is banned from any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, unless Congress, by a vote of two-thirds of each House, removes such disability.

So, which member(s) of Congress will call for such a vote for Rep. Kathy Hochul?!?